Date of release : 11-06-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

The General Affairs and External Relations Council will convene in Luxembourg on 13-14 June under the chairmanship of Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration and President in office of the Council of the European Union.

In the morning of 13 June, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs will discuss preparations for forthcoming the European Council, due to take place in Brussels on 16 and 17 June.

On Monday afternoon, the External relations session will focus on the situation in the Western Balkans, the Middle East, Cuba, Iraq and Uzbekistan. Foreign Ministers will discuss the transatlantic relationship and prepare the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in September 2005 in New York.

Ahead of the Council meeting, Foreign Ministers will gather for an informal "Conclave" meeting in the evening of Sunday, 12 June, to discuss the financial framework of the European Union for the period 2007-2013.

On the margins of the Council, an EU-Ukraine Cooperation Council will meet on 13 June after the General Affairs and External Relations Council sessions. An EU-EEE Council and an EU-Romania Association Council will take place the following morning, on 14 June.